HRT for perimenopause: what it is, and what to ask your doctor

Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for peri symptoms. Modern guidelines (including NAMS and the Menopause Society) say it is safe for the vast majority of women who start before 60 or within 10 years of menopause, and it is now recommended by the American College of Obstetricians as first-line care for bothersome symptoms.

The old 2002 fears have been largely walked back. Today the risk profile for most women at your age is very favorable. What matters: a doctor who is menopause-informed, the right dose, and the right route (patch vs pill vs cream). Bring your symptom log and ask directly: "Is hormone therapy an option for me?"